NCJ Number
16509
Date Published
1973
Length
43 pages
Annotation
A DESCRIPTION OF JUVENILE DELINQUNCY TRENDS, MEASUREMENT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, CAUSES OR ASSOCIATED FACTORS, TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS, AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES.
Abstract
JUVENILE CRIME IN NEW ZEALAND IS DEFINED AS A BREACH OF THE LAW RESULTING IN THE PROSECUTION IN THE CHILDREN'S COURT OF A YOUNG PERSON BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 16, INCLUSIVE. THE NATURE OF OFFENSES COMMITTED BY JUVENILES AND PROBLEMS IN MEASURING THE ACTUAL INCIDENCE OF JUVENILE CRIME ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS STATED THAT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY RATES IN NEW ZEALAND SHOW A MARKED INCREASE FROM 1950 TO 1971. STATISTICS ON THESE RATES ARE PROVIDED. FACTORS THOUGHT TO BE RELATED TO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY CAUSATION SUCH AS SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION, POOR HOME LIFE, HEREDITARY FACTORS AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ARE REVIEWED. THE VARIOUS TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE IN NEW ZEALAND AND THE RESULTS OF THESE METHODS ARE DISCUSSED AS WELL. IT WAS FOUND THAT IN SPITE OF TREATMENT, RECIDIVISM RATES FOR JUVENILES WAS QUITE HIGH. CURRENT RESOURCES WHICH MAY BE USED IN DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, SUCH AS PRESCHOOL CARE, SOCIAL WORKERS, SCHOOL PARTICIPATION, SPECIAL CLASSES FOR MALADJUSTED CHILDREN, AND RESTITUTION AS OPPOSED TO SUPERVISORY CARE ARE OUTLINED. FINALLY, THE ROLE OF RESEARCH AND TYPES OF RESEARCH IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ARE DISCUSSED.